The "Death Bird" of Colo River whose weird cries bring terror to many residents of the locality, was described recently in one of our Sydney evening contemporaries.
"From Wiseman's Ferry to Mangrove Creek, by the banks of Calabash Bay; along those dozens of shady creeks (the haunt of blue crane and pelican) that feed the sluggish Hawkesbury between the Colo and Brooklyn, the stories of the 'Death Bird' are legion," said the paper.
"The weird cries of the 'Death Bird', so the legend runs, spell death, if not to the people who hear it, at least to their relatives. Several Hawkesbury natives, who have been keeping a tally of the visitations of the 'Death Bird', tell of 20 deaths and in every case the weird cries of the river terror preceded their deaths."
Now comes another tragic incident associated with the "Death Bird". On Tuesday, November20, three parties from Sydney were proceeding in motor yachts along the Hawkesbury. They turned into the Colo River, some distance separating each of the yachts. Two of the yachts were frequent visitors to the Hawkesbury, and those on board knew the story of the "Death Bird", its weird cries, and the legend of death associated with it. All were proceeding leisurely on their way when the skipper of the leading yacht suddenly called to his mate.
"My God!", he exclaimed. "There goes the 'Death Bird'!" and he pointed to the black omen of death winging its way over the third yacht.
The yacht in question, over which the bird flew, was the Kathleen, owned and being steered, at that moment, by Mr. Phil. Gell, whose tragic death occurred so suddenly a fortnight later.
(Windsor and Richmond Gazette -21st December, 1928).
Fearsome stories of the "Death Bird" are legion along the valley of the Hawkesbury and Nepean, between Penrith, Wiseman's Ferry and Berowra. Descendants of pioneer settlers, whose farms front the shady, sluggish creeks running into the Hawkesbury, haunt of the blue crane, the pelican and curlew, believe these legends. To them the weird call of this mystery bird means death. Time after time their friends and relatives have died shortly after the mournful wail has been heard.
At Mangrove Creek last year a new settler heard the call every night for a week. He asked local residents what it was and they told him. Two days later a letter apprised him of the unexpected death of his brother.
During the war, time after time, the death bird, according to residents of the Hawkesbury, foretold the death of local boys serving at the front.
One woman who lost two sons and three nephews heard the call three days before she received news of each death. Her nerves were so shattered that she moved away from the district.
Three times in the past few months the "Death Bird" has been heard in the Rooty Hill and Blacktown districts, and each time it has heralded a death.
Old residents of the Hawkesbury say that the legends of the bird came from the aboriginies (sic) who believed that its weird call always preceded a death.
(Windsor and Richmond Gazette - 15th January, 1932).
There is an old story told by fishermen of a mysterious hand rising out of the water alongside their boats on the Hawkesbury River at Gunderman. The hand has been reported to appear both day and night. Recent sightings have been reported.
(Source - oral )
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